Mom hopes that nightmares will end soon

February 20, 2007

You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but 6-year-old Christian Coop has nightmares about death. "I know he appears to be happy when you see him during the day, but many of his nights can be pretty rough," says Becky Hibbs, Christian's mom. It's understandable -- and so unfair for a little guy like him. Christian's best friend, Myles Hubert, died of leukemia back in September, and Christian colored a picture of both of them that went in Myles' casket. They were regular roommates at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Then just before Christmas, his dog Max died. And Christian, who lives with his family in Osceola and is a first-grader at Moran Elementary School, sometimes thinks he is dying, too. That's what happens when you are 6 years old and you have been sick for almost two years with lymphoblastic leukemia ... and you've lost your hair ... and been stuck with needles ... and have had almost a constant stomachache from all the medicine. Christian also spent his fifth birthday in a coma. Then he had to call it quits early on his Make-a-Wish trip to Disney World just before his sixth birthday because he had to undergo emergency surgery for an infection around his port -- an implanted device in his chest for medication. How could you not have nightmares? "Christian sees a case manager at Madison Center once a week and a social worker at school once a week," Becky says. He also is down at Riley every two to three weeks. And yet Christian hangs in there -- trying to go to school as much as he can and trying to be as normal a little boy as possible. If only he could get over the nightmares. His parents -- Bobby Coop and Becky Hibbs -- have their share of nightmares, too, that don't go away when they wake up. Because of Christian's mounting medical bills and battles with Medicaid, they now face the possibility of Bobby's wages being garnished from his job for an armored-car company, the repossession of their van and maybe even the loss of their home. Part of the problem is that Becky, 32, has her own health issues with very painful joints, and her medication has to be paid out of pocket. Sometimes, she goes without. "I'm not on Bobby's insurance because we aren't married," she admits. "He is a good man who helped me out of a bad relationship, and we were talking about getting married just before Christian got sick. At that point, we decided to put it on hold." Besides Christian, Becky has three daughters -- 13-year-old Domonique, 9-year-old Cheyenne and 3-year-old Skylar. "Really, we're good people," she says. "When we can help others, we always do. We would give the shirt off our backs if it would help." Just recently, Becky and her two oldest daughters -- both honor roll students -- donated much of their hair to Locks of Love. People have been wonderful to them as well. A couple of fundraisers have brought in several thousand dollars for Christian's medical bills, and the University of Notre Dame volleyball team has adopted Christian as their mascot -- staying in touch with him and lifting his spirits. "And after the last fundraiser, I immediately wrote a check out to Riley for every dollar we received," Becky says. "We just don't seem to get the help from Medicaid that others say we should be getting." She keeps battling with Medicaid officials on the phone while the creditors continue to apply the pressure. "I call them every day," she says. Sometimes, Becky can't help but laugh. It sure beats crying. "If I can't make myself laugh a little here and then, I don't think I could go on," she says. Christian does his best to smile, too. "He is going to go to Brown Mackie College to show a nursing class how to access a port," Becky says. For a 6-year-old, Christian knows way too much about medical procedures. "We just want him to get better," Becky says. "And for the nightmares to end." For all the family someday. Bill Moor's column appears on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Contact him at bmoor@sbtinfo.com, or write him at the South Bend Tribune, 225 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46626; (574) 235-6072. Bill's new book of columns, "Moor or Less Volume 2: Old Soldiers, Good Neighbors and Loyal Dogs," is now available at the Tribune's front counter, Borders and most Martin's Super Markets.Bill Moor Commentary